It seems that some of our blogging may have sent an incorrect message that we weren't having fun on this trip. It is quite the contrary, as I could've never even imagined how much I would enjoy the experience and how much we'd learn...about other cultures, yes, but even more so about ourselves.
True, the snippets we post seem to highlight the things that have stuck out in our eyes as being different than what you would experience walking down the street in the US. Different does not mean bad and I even say, different is something that can teach us. Take for instance the act of haggling over prices. This is common practice and goes against my direct and to the point nature. But if you sit and observe the process it is done in a very friendly and respectful manner and the success comes in being patient and good-humored.
Everywhere you turn in Egypt you are shown the utter patience of the people and it is truly inspiring. In Cairo at any given time of the day you can have 20 million people walking and driving in the city yet it is said you rarely get a traffic jam that will come to a halt. Is this because they have figured out the trick to traffic lights? Haha, no, the first rule in driving in Egypt is that there are no rules. The fact is that people weave in and out of traffic on foot and the drivers communicate their location to walkers and other vehicles by honking. They don't use designated lanes but let each other merge in front or cut into the flow from a side street. It's like the city all pulses and flows as one.
The one battle we face is wearing the tourist skin but not wanting to be a tourist. We are indeed visiting the countries and taking in their sights as tourist and it may just be too much to ask to not be treated as such. And let's face it, we do not speak the local language and therefore we will always be an outsider and I can respect that.
This trip will continue to open our eyes and to everyone reading about our experiences...keep challenging us with thoughts, comments and questions!
~J
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1 comment:
Steve and Jesse, I've finally started catching up on your blogging and it's fantastic! I hear you on a few points. It's definitely a drag to be treated like a big dollar sign rather than a person, but you're right, it's an inescapable part of being an American "tourist" and you just get used to it and find a way to enjoy your interactions with people even though they're different than the way you're used to interacting. And second, I remember the difficulty of reporting the bizarre and interesting things that happened abroad without sounding like I wasn't having a good time. It's the strange and often uncomfortable situations that make a good blog entry, but often the little things that make the trip worth it are harder to put into words. I'm so glad you're keeping us all posted on a regular basis (and you'll be glad to have written all this in a few years). Keep up the good work!
Love you,
Linds
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